The following is issued on behalf of the Legislative Council Secretariat:
 
     The Legislative Council (LegCo) will hold a meeting on Wednesday (December 18) at 11am in the Chamber of the LegCo Complex. During the meeting, the Second Reading debate on the Construction Industry Security of Payment Bill will resume. If the Bill is supported by Members and receive its Second Reading, it will stand committed to the committee of the whole Council. After the committee of the whole Council has completed consideration of the Bill and its report is adopted by the Council, the Bill will be set down for the Third Reading.
 
     The Second Reading debate on the Inland Revenue (Amendment) (Tax Deductions for Leased Premises Reinstatement and Allowances for Buildings and Structures) Bill 2024 will also resume. If the Bill is supported by Members and receive its Second Reading, it will stand committed to the committee of the whole Council. After the committee of the whole Council has completed consideration of the Bill and its report is adopted by the Council, the Bill will be set down for the Third Reading.
 
     Meanwhile, the Stablecoins Bill, the Ozone Layer Protection (Amendment) Bill 2024 and the Private Columbaria (Amendment) Bill 2024 will be introduced into the Council for the First Reading and the Second Reading. The Second Reading debates on the Bills will be adjourned.
 
     On Members' motions, Mr Chan Yung will move a motion on taking forward red tourism and the panda economy in Hong Kong. The motion is set out in Appendix 1. Mr Kenneth Leung, Mr Stanley Ng and Ms Chan Yuet-ming will move separate amendments to Mr Chan's motion.
 
     Mr Jeffrey Lam will move a motion on actively responding to economic transformation and maintaining a favourable business environment. The motion is set out in Appendix 2. Mr Rock Chen and Dr Hoey Simon Lee will move separate amendments to Mr Lam's motion.
 
     Mr Chan Kin-por will move a motion under Rule 49E(2) of the Rules of Procedure to take note of a report of the House Committee on consideration of the subsidiary legislation and other instruments. The motion is set out in Appendix 3.
 
     During the meeting, the Chief Secretary for Administration will present "The Government Minute in response to the Annual Report of The Ombudsman 2024" and address the Council.
 
     In addition, the Chairman of the Panel on Development, Dr Lo Wai-kwok; the Chairman of the Panel on Housing, Mr Stanley Ng; the Chairman of the Panel on Administration of Justice and Legal Services, Mr Martin Liao; the Chairman of the Panel on Public Service, Mr Dennis Leung; the Chairman of the Panel on Constitutional Affairs, Mr Lai Tung-kwok; the Chairman of the Panel on Economic Development, Mrs Regina Ip; the Chairman of the Panel on Manpower, Mr Lam Chun-sing; the Chairman of the Panel on Information Technology and Broadcasting, Ms Elizabeth Quat; and the Chairman of the Panel on Transport, Dr Chan Han-pan, will present the Reports of the related Panels and address the Council respectively.
 
     Members will also ask the Government 22 questions on various policy areas, six of which require oral replies.
 
     The agenda of the above meeting can be obtained via the LegCo Website (www.legco.gov.hk). Members of the public can watch or listen to the meeting via the "Webcast" system on the LegCo Website. To observe the proceedings of the meeting at the LegCo Complex, members of the public may call 3919 3399 during office hours to reserve seats.

     The Secretary for Justice, Mr Paul Lam, SC, is on a three-day visit to Beijing, during which he will meet with officials from various ministries and authorities. He attended the opening ceremony of the Hong Kong International Arbitration Centre (HKIAC) Beijing Representative Office this afternoon (December 16).

     The HKIAC and the Department of Justice have been working closely to jointly promote Hong Kong's international arbitration. The HKIAC is the sole appointing authority under the Arbitration Ordinance responsible for appointing arbitrators and determining the number of arbitrators when the parties to a dispute fail to reach an agreement. It is also one of the seven designated arbitral institutions under the Arrangement Concerning Mutual Assistance in Court-ordered Interim Measures in Aid of Arbitral Proceedings by the Courts of the Mainland and of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region.

     Addressing the opening ceremony, Mr Lam said that the HKIAC is the first arbitral institution outside the Mainland to establish an office in Beijing, marking a new milestone. The establishment of the Representative Office enables Beijing to become more internationalised and diversified in the arbitration field and to better meet the needs of the country's development. He looks forward to seeing Beijing and Hong Kong continue to join hands to promote co-operation and exchanges in legal matters and dispute resolution. The Co-Chairperson of the HKIAC, Mr Rimsky Yuen, SC; the Chairman of the Hong Kong Bar Association, Mr Victor Dawes, SC; and Vice-President of the Law Society of Hong Kong Mr Amirali Nasir also attended the opening ceremony today.

     Mr Lam also met with officials from the Hong Kong and Macao Affairs Office of the State Council and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs today for discussions and exchanges on the progress of the Department of Justice's major policy measures. Mr Lam had dinner with Vice-president of the Supreme People's Court Mr Mao Zhonghua yesterday evening (December 15).

     Mr Lam will meet with the Minister of Justice, Ms He Rong, tomorrow (December 17) to brief her on the establishment of a dedicated platform for Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area (GBA) lawyers and a GBA legal information platform. They will also discuss the work of the Hong Kong International Legal Talents Training Academy and relevant training for foreign-related legal talent.

     Mr Lam will conclude his visit to Beijing and return to Hong Kong on the same day.

      

     The Commissioner for the Development of the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area, Ms Maisie Chan, began a two-day visit to Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam, today (December 16), to introduce the vibrant development and unlimited opportunities in various areas of the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area (GBA), as well as promote Hong Kong as the ideal gateway for Vietnamese enterprises and talent to tap into the GBA market.
 
     Upon arrival at Ho Chi Minh City, Ms Chan met with senior representatives of the Vietnam Chamber of Commerce and Industry and the Hong Kong Business Association Vietnam to learn about the latest developments in the country. She also promoted to business leaders and senior executives at the meeting how Hong Kong, as a core city of the GBA, could help Vietnamese enterprises seize the enormous opportunities brought about by GBA development.
 
     Ms Chan said that the GBA, as one of the most economically vibrant and open regions of the country, has an economy roughly equivalent in size to the 10th largest economy in the world, and is a fast-growing economic power. As the only world-class city that can capitalise on both the China advantage and the international advantage globally, Hong Kong possesses a first-class business environment that is highly market oriented, internationalised and underpinned by the rule of law. Under the "one country, two systems" principle, Hong Kong serves as a "super connector" and a "super value-adder" between the Mainland and global markets, as well as an ideal partner for overseas enterprises to tap into the vast markets of the GBA and the rest of the Mainland. She encouraged Vietnamese enterprises and talent to leverage Hong Kong's advantages to broaden their space for development in the GBA.
 
     Tomorrow (December 17), Ms Chan will call on the Consul General of the People's Republic of China in Ho Chi Minh City, Mr Wei Huaxiang, in the morning. In the afternoon, she will attend the Ho Chi Minh City – GBA Economic and Trade Investment Promotion Conference co-organised by various organisations including the Chinese General Chamber of Commerce, the GBA Entrepreneurs Alliance, the Investment and Trade Promotion Centre of Ho Chi Minh City, etc. She will deliver a keynote speech on the theme of "Hong Kong: The Best Gateway to the Greater Bay Area for Vietnamese Businesses", to introduce the geographical advantages and development potential of the GBA, including various innovative policies and measures to enable the efficient flow of people, goods, capital and information within the GBA, as well as how Vietnamese enterprises and talent can make good use of these policies and measures to enter the enormous market of the GBA through Hong Kong.

        

The following is issued on behalf of the Hong Kong Monetary Authority:

     The Hong Kong Monetary Authority (HKMA) wishes to alert members of the public to a press release issued by Bank Julius Baer & Co. Ltd. relating to a fraudulent website, which has been reported to the HKMA. A hyperlink to the press release is available on the HKMA website.
      
     The HKMA wishes to remind the public that banks will not send SMS or emails with embedded hyperlinks which direct them to the banks' websites to carry out transactions. They will not ask customers for sensitive personal information, such as login passwords or one-time password, by phone, email or SMS (including via embedded hyperlinks).
      
     Anyone who has provided his or her personal information, or who has conducted any financial transactions, through or in response to the website concerned, should contact the bank using the contact information provided in the press release, and report the matter to the Police by contacting the Crime Wing Information Centre of the Hong Kong Police Force at 2860 5012.

     The Centre for Health Protection (CHP) of the Department of Health today (December 16) reported the latest number of cases of Legionnaires' disease (LD), and reminded the public of the importance of using and maintaining properly designed man-made water systems, adding that susceptible groups should strictly observe relevant precautions.

     From December 8 to 14, the CHP recorded the following two community-acquired LD cases:
 

1. A 60-year-old male patient with underlying illnesses living in Sha Tin District; and
2. A 79-year-old female patient with underlying illnesses living in North District.

     "Epidemiological investigations are ongoing to identify potential sources of infection, high-risk exposure and clusters, if any," a spokesman for the CHP said.

     As of December 14, 133 LD cases had been recorded this year. In 2023 and 2022, there were 121 and 80 cases respectively.

     "Men, people aged over 50, smokers, alcoholics and persons with weakened immunity are more susceptible to LD. Some situations may also increase the risk of infection, including poor maintenance of water systems; living in areas with old water systems, cooling towers or fountains; using electric water heaters, whirlpools and spas or hot water spring spas; and recent stays in hotels or vessels," the spokesman said.

     Legionellae are found in various environmental settings and grow well in warm water (20 to 45 degrees Celsius). They can be found in aqueous environments such as water tanks, hot and cold water systems, cooling towers, whirlpools and spas, water fountains and home apparatus that support breathing. People may become infected when they breathe in contaminated droplets (aerosols) and mist generated by artificial water systems, or when handling garden soil, compost and potting mixes.

     Immunocompromised persons should:
 

• Use sterile or boiled water for drinking, tooth brushing and mouth rinsing;
• Avoid using humidifiers, or other mist- or aerosol-generating devices; and
• If using humidifiers, or other mist- or aerosol-generating devices, fill the water tank with only sterile or cooled freshly boiled water, and not water directly from the tap. Also, clean and maintain humidifiers/devices regularly according to manufacturers' instructions. Never leave stagnant water in a humidifier/device. Empty the water tank, wipe all surfaces dry, and change the water daily. 

     The public should observe the health advice below:
 

• Observe personal hygiene;
• Do not smoke and avoid alcohol consumption;
• Strainers in water taps and shower heads should be inspected, cleaned, descaled and disinfected regularly or at a frequency recommended by the manufacturer;
• If a fresh-water plumbing system is properly maintained, it is not necessary to install domestic water filters. Use of water filters is not encouraged as clogging occurs easily, which can promote growth of micro-organisms. In case water filters are used, the pore size should be 0.2 micrometres (µm) and the filter needs to be changed periodically according to the manufacturer's recommendations;
• Drain and clean water tanks of buildings at least quarterly;
• Drain or purge for at least one minute infrequently used water outlets (e.g. water taps, shower heads and hot water outlets) and stagnant points of the pipework weekly or before use;
• Seek and follow doctors' professional advice regarding the use and maintenance of home respiratory devices and use only sterile water (not distilled or tap water) to clean and fill the reservoir. Clean and maintain the device regularly according to the manufacturer's instructions. After cleaning/disinfection, rinse the device with sterile water, cooled freshly boiled water or water filtered with 0.2 µm filters. Never leave stagnant water in the device. Empty the water tank, keep all surfaces dry, and change the water daily; and
• When handling garden soil, compost and potting mixes: 
• Wear gloves and a face mask;
• Water gardens and compost gently using low pressure;
• Open composted potting mixes slowly and make sure the opening is directed away from the face;
• Wet the soil to reduce dust when potting plants; and
• Avoid working in poorly ventilated places such as enclosed greenhouses.

     â€‹â€‹The public may visit the CHP's LD page, the Code of Practice for Prevention of LD and the Housekeeping Guidelines for Cold and Hot Water Systems for Building Management of the Prevention of LD Committee, and the CHP's risk-based strategy for prevention and control of LD.